Corner
Canyon senior Rivers Johnson wasn’t quite having the season she envisioned for
her final year of high school swimming.

She
said that despite putting in more than 25 hours a week training, her times
often looked very similar to those she had when she was in ninth grade. And
yet, it all came together at the Richards Building Pool Feb. 14–15 at Brigham
Young University where she will spend the next four years competing
collegiately. She set three 6A state records, winning two individual titles and
a relay championship in leading the Chargers to a third-place finish as a team.

“At
the very start of the season, I knew what I wanted, but the year didn’t quite
go as planned with my times,” she said. “After a pretty crazy two days at
state, I have just sat in shock and been trying to take it in. It just feels so
rewarding to have it all come together for me.”

CCHS
swimming coach Patrick Thurman said, “Rivers has
always been a talented swimmer. She has a natural ability to move through the
water. She is also her biggest critic, and helping her to stay positive has
been my biggest focus with her. Even after all she did at state, she still wasn't
satisfied. That drive will serve her well at BYU next year.”

The senior was
named the 6A Female Swimmer of the Year at the state meet.

“I didn’t even know there was an award
like that and I was just taking pictures with friends when my name was
announced,” Johnson said. “I feel so incredibly honored to receive this award.”

She set new 6A state records in the 100 butterfly
and 100 backstroke while also swimming a leg on the first-place 200 medley
relay team, who also set a state record, in the event. Senior Aliza Smith,
junior Britta Catmull and senior Eliza Balfe were also part of the championship
relay squad.

Johnson, the daughter of Ryan and Heather
Johnson of Draper, has been swimming since she was 7, and although she tried
plenty of other sports and extracurricular activities, she always found her way
back to the pool. “Swimming has always had my heart,” she said. “There is a
power that I experience after a race I’m really proud of that is hard for me to
explain.”

Progressing in the sport has helped
Johnson learn that “motivation can only take you so far and discipline and
habits are the key to your success.”

Johnson had several offers to swim
collegiately and ultimately selected her parents’ alma mater to pursue her
education and stay in the pool for four more years.

At state this year, Corner Canyon had 22
swimmers who qualified for 39 events and six relays — the largest group in
school history, according to Thurman. McKay Larsen, who led the boys to an 11th-place
finish, broke the school record in the 200 individual medley and placed second.

The 200 free relay squad of Afualo,
Kristin Miller, Lauren Crayk and Tyler Lybbert finished third as well as the
400 free relay lineup of Johnson, Balfe, Smith and Afualo, while the 200 medley
relay team of Barlow, Larsen, Smith and Miller broke the school record and
finished fourth.

“The
swimmers did a phenomenal job,” Thurman said. “I was so happy to see so many
get the experience of swimming at state. The most rewarding aspect of coaching
is seeing your athletes achieve success through their hard work.”